How to Pronounce X in Portuguese – A Simple Guide for Leaners

Pronouncing the letter X in Portuguese can be tricky for language learners. That’s because, unlike in English, the letter X in Portuguese has four possible sounds:

/ʃ/ as in chave (key)
/ks/ as in táxi (taxi)
/z/ as in exemplo (example)
/s/ as in próximo (next)

Fortunately, some common spelling patterns can help you predict the correct pronunciation. Let’s dive in.

/ʃ/-sound

The most common pronunciation of the letter X in Portuguese is the /ʃ/ sound, similar to the English “sh” in she or ashes.

Words Starting with X

In European Portuguese, nearly all words that begin with X are pronounced with the /ʃ/ sound. Here are some examples:

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xeque (check)
xarope (syrup)
xerife (sheriff)
xenofobia (xenophobia)
xícara (tea-cup)
. . .

X Before a Consonant

When the letter X appears before another consonant in Portuguese, it is almost always pronounced as /ʃ/.

Interestingly, many of these words have English cognates where the X is pronounced as /ks/ instead. Here are some examples:

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texto (text)
explorar (explore)
extremo (extreme)
expectativa (expectation)
exterior (exterior)
. . .

X Between Vowels

When the letter X appears between vowels in Portuguese, things get a bit more unpredictable. There are three possible pronunciations, and unfortunately, no strict rules to follow.

For the most part, however, X between vowels is pronounced as /ʃ/—just like in previous cases. Here are some common examples:

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baixo (short)
ameixa (plum)
queixa (complaint)
lixo (garbage)
puxar (pull)
. . .

As mentioned above, X can also take on other sounds in this position. Let’s explore those exceptions next.

/ks/-sound

In Portuguese, the letter X can be pronounced as /ks/ (like in accident) when it appears between vowels. Many of these words have English cognates that also follow the same pronunciation pattern.

Here are some common examples:

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complexo (complex)
taxonomia (taxonomy)
fluxo (flux)
tóxico (toxic)
axioma (axiom)
. . .

/z/-sound

In some cases, the letter X in Portuguese is pronounced as /z/ (like in zealous). This often happens in words that have English cognates—although in English, the X is usually pronounced as /gz/ instead.

Here are some common examples:

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exausto (exhaust)
exagero (exaggeration)
exílio (exile)
exame (exam)
exótico (exotic)
. . .

👉 Speaking of cognates! You might already know more Portuguese words than you think! Check out Portuguese-English Cognates: Boost Your Portuguese Vocab Overnight.

/s/-sound

In some rare cases, the letter X in Portuguese is pronounced as /s/ (like in sow). However, this pronunciation is an exception rather than the rule. Here are a few examples: